THE DISAPPEARING SQUARES: SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF URBAN MOBILITY PLANNING IN DURRËS

The politics of urban mobility affects not only the movement in the cities, but also the social behaviour of the citizens, the environmental quality, and the usage of public spaces. In Mediterranean cities, urban squares have traditionally functioned as social and environmental infrastructure, while supporting the flow of pedestrians, access to urban transportation, social interactions, and urban well-being. In the city of Durres, Albania, over the last decade, interventions in the planning of mobility have privileged the flow of private mobility, leading to the reduction, fragmentation, or disappearance of some of the historical squares. This study analyses the social and environmental impacts of the loss of urban squares in Durres, while focusing on the relationship between urban mobility, user behavior, and the quality of the built environment. The shift in priorities from public spaces to automobilistic infrastructure has negatively affected the acceptance of new sustainable forms of mobility, such as walking and public transport, while strengthening behavior models dependent on private automobiles. Consequently, the city faces increases in air pollution and noise, deterioration of thermal comfort, and reduced accessibility for different social groups, especially pedestrians and public transport users. The research methodology focuses on comparative analysis of historical and contemporary maps, the use of GIS tools, and field observations of mobility flows, social use of urban spaces, and environmental conditions. Through this approach, this study identifies disappeared squares and evaluates the influence of their transformations on pedestrian behaviour, the use of squares and their environmental urban performance. Finally, this study argues that public squares may be treated as key elements of sustainable mobility systems and smart cities. Their integration in urban mobility strategies could encourage positive changes in the users‘ behaviour, improve environmental quality, and strengthen social cohesion in cities rich in historical heritage.